The Tempest – from Act 2 Scene 1, lines 139 to 162
In this extract, Gonzalo imagines what he would do if he were king of the island and explains
his dreams for a better world.
GONZALO
Had I plantation of this isle, my lord –
ANTONIO
He’d sow it with nettle-seed.
SEBASTIAN
Or docks, or mallows. 140
GONZALO
And were the king on’t, what would I do?
SEBASTIAN
’Scape being drunk for want of wine.
GONZALO
I’the commonwealth I would by contraries
Execute all things – for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; no name of magistrate. 145
Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
And use of service, none; contract, succession,
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
No occupation; all men idle, all – 150
And women too, but innocent and pure;
No sovereignty –
SEBASTIAN
Yet he would be king on’t.
ANTONIO
The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the
beginning.
GONZALO
All things in common Nature should produce
Without sweat or endeavour. Treason, felony, 155
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
Would I not have – but Nature should bring forth,
Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance,
To feed my innocent people.
SEBASTIAN
No marrying ’mong his subjects? 160
ANTONIO
None, man – all idle: whores and knaves.
GONZALO
I would with such perfection govern, sir,
T’excel the Golden Age.

In this extract, Gonzalo shares his wishes for a better world.
Explain the importance of wishes elsewhere in the play.
In your answer, you must consider:

• what the characters wish for
• why they have these wishes.
  You must refer to the context of the play in your answer.

In William Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, wishes and dreams play a significant role in shaping the characters’ actions and motivations. Throughout the play, characters express their desires and aspirations, often leading to conflict and resolution. In this extract from Act 2 Scene 1, Gonzalo shares his utopian vision for the island and the world, a dream that clashes with the more cynical and realistic views of Antonio and Sebastian. This essay will explore the importance of wishes elsewhere in the play, analyzing how the characters’ desires and motivations drive the plot and shape the themes of the play.

The Tempest is a play that centers around the idea of power and control. Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, seeks to regain his position and power by manipulating the elements and people on the island where he and his daughter Miranda have been stranded. His plan involves using magic to control the spirits and creatures on the island, as well as using his wit and cunning to manipulate the other characters into fulfilling his desires.